
Previous Speakers
The symposium has been honored to welcome many distinguished speakers over the years. Here, you can browse past guests and topics.
2023: Dimensions of a Garden: An Exploration of Styles and Purposes

Richard Bisgrove

Edwina von Gal

Dr. John M. Dole

Marianne Willburn
2020: Gardening For The Future

Emily McCoy

Dr. Michael Raupp

Dr Linda Chalker Scott

Laurie Reid Dukes
2019: Innovative Approaches to Gardening

Thomas Woltz

Claudia West

Tradd Cotter

Brie Arthur
2018: Inspiration to Reality

Kerry Mendez

William Reiley

Troy Scott Smith

Ted Stevens
2017: What’s in YOUR Garden?

Nigel Dunnett

Jan Johnsen

Thomas Rainer

Doug Tallamy

Helen Yoest
2016: Big Ideas for Small Gardens

Jon Carloftis

Mary Palmer Dargan

Fergus Garrett

Susan Morrison

Rita Randolph
2015: Planting Outside the Lines

Colston Burrell

Sandra Clinton

Evelyn Hadden

Carol Reese

Margie Ruddick
2014: It’s All About the Plants

Tony Avent

Kirk Brown

David Culp

Paula Gross

Holly Shimizu
2013: Beyond the Garden Gate: Exploring Creative Spaces

Nan Chase

Noel Kingsbury

Tovah Martin

Julie Moir Messervy

Holly Scoggins
2012: The Roots of Passion: The Inspired Gardener

Sean Hogan

Andrea Wulf

David Howard

Tiz Johnston

Larry Mellichamp

Andrea Sprott

Bill Thomas
2011: Exploring Possibilities: Rediscovering Home

Chip Calloway

David C. Creech

Erica Glasener

Darrel Morrison

Barbara Pleasant
2010: Through the Seasons: A Southern Garden’s Journey

Allen Armitage

Pam Baggett

Robin Ripley

Gary W. Smith

William Welch
2009: Gardens for Our Time

Charles Birnbaum

Mark Weathington

Don Boekelheide

Don Booth

Bruce Clodfelter

Nigel Dunnett

Ellen Kirby
2008: Herbaceous Havens: Creating Garden Sanctuaries

Stephanie Cohen

Tracy DiSaboto-Aust

Tom Goforth

John Hoffman

Mary Stauble
2007: Green Challenges: Gardening in Unexpected Places

Jon Calabria

Randy Clark

Anna Haven Kiers

Felder Rushing

Roger Turner
2006: The Evolving Garden: Reflections on the Garden and It’s Afterlife

Steve Bender

John Dixon Hunt

Pat Linton

Anna Pavord

Tom Petherick
2005: Fresh Perspective on Gardens

Michael Balogh

Jenks Farmer

Penelope Hobhouse

David McMullin

Scott Ogden

Lauren Springer Ogden
2004: Inside Out: Inspired Spaces For Outside Living

Ken Druse

Julie Moir Messervy

Doug Ruhren

Mary Walton Upchurch
2003: Plants in the Company of People

Rick Darke

D.G. Martin

Anne Raver

Vincent Simeone

Arthur Tucker

Larry Weaner
2002: Order and Chaos in the Garden

Edith Eddelman

Stephen Lacey

Ben Page

Mike Shoup
2001: Artists in the Garden: The Interaction of Nature and Art

Jenks Farmer

Peter Loewer

Bob Lyons

Elizabeth Murray

Elsie Dinsmore Popkin
2000: Reflections and Visions: Past Symposium Favorites and New Voices for the Next Century

Henry Arnold

A.E. Bye

Denise Greene

Pamela Harper

Stephen Lederach
1999: Personal Edens: Creating Unique Spaces in Southern Gardens

Kurt Bluemel

Peggy Cornett

Julie Moir Messervy

Renee Shepherd

Kim E. Tripp

Craig Tufts
1998: Pushing the Boundaries

Colston Burrell

Elliot Coleman

Barbara Damrosch

Steven Frowine

Klause Jelitto
1997: Gardens By Design

Richard Bir

Veronica Westendorff

Gwen Machon Cook

Wayne Winterrowd

August DeHertogh

Edd Evans

Judith Jones

Fred Spicer
1996: Secrets of Good Gardens

Cyane Gresham

Sarah Stone

Dan Hinkley

Norman Kent Johnson

Ted Kipping

Mark Peters

Marco Polo Stephano
1995: The Lure of the Garden

Pamela Harper

Lucinda Mays

Robin Moore

Eric Ritchie

Felder Rushing

Holly Shimizu
1994: Public Gardens, Private Gains

Walter Chandoha

Kris Jarantoski

Bill Moye

J.C. Raulston

Geoffrey Rausch

Judith Zuk
1993: The Shape of Things to Come

John Elsley

Pat Stone

John Graham

Tracy Traer

John Holmes

Tim Turton

Carol Johnson

Greg Lowery

Larry Mellichamp
1992: The Common Bond: Back to Roots

Tony Avent

Claire Sawyers

Richard Bir

Peter Schaudt

Allen Bush

Rick Darke

Michael Dirr

Lislott Harberts
1991: Hand in Hand with Nature

Bonnie Lee Appleton

J.C. Raulston

Allen Armitage

Derek Fell

Sandra Ladendorf

Peter Loewer

Shepherd Ogden
1990: A Sense of Place

Henry Arnold

Denis Wood

Neil Diboll

Al Gentry

Tom Hatley

Sheafe Satterthwaite

Richard Weaver
1989: From Jungles to Freeways

Marc H. Cathey

Angela Danadjieva

Brent Heath

Stephen Lacey

Christopher Lloyd

J.C. Raulston
1988: Secrets of Site Design

Joseph Hudak

Allen Lacey

Bryce Lane

Ted Osmandson

Hans Simon

Gurdon Tarbok Jr
1987

John Creech

John Elsley

Dan Kiley

Anthony Paul

J.C. Raulston
1986

William Flemer III

William Lanier Hunt

Robert McCartney

Harry Phillips

William Valvanis

Michael VanValkenburgh
1985

A.E. Bye

Fred Galle

William Lanier Hunt

Ken Moore

Harry Phillips

Jim Wilson
